No swine flu case in Delhi, NRI discharged

New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) Health authorities in the capital Sunday said none of the six suspected cases of swine flu here had tested positive for the infection. The sixth and last patient was a London-based NRI.

“His samples were found negative Saturday evening like of the other five. We have discharged him early this morning,” N.K. Chaturvedi, medical superintendent of the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital here, told IANS.

“We have no patient as of now in our swine flu ward,” Chaturvedi added.

According to Chaturvedi, the RML hospital is fully equipped to handle the flu and has a dedicated team of doctors to treat infected people.

“We have a full-fledged isolation ward with 30 beds. There are 20 doctors and 12 nurses on duty. We also have 1,000 Tamiflu tablets. If there is a shortage of Tamiflu tablets then the NICD will provide them. RML also has 100 medical kits which consist of protective gowns, gloves, eye-gear, syringes and scissors,” he said.

Of the six suspected cases, two were non-resident Indians (NRIs) and all of them came to India in the past fortnight.

The 35-year-old man from London was subjected to screening at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). He was found to have a running nose, cough and throat irritation. He was admitted to the isolation ward of the RML hospital and discharged Sunday morning.

The other NRI was a 25-year-old man from Texas. He was admitted to the RML hospital Friday with flu symptoms, but tested negative.

Across Asia, four confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) - commonly known as swine flu - have been reported so far.

India has increased surveillance at all international airports and ports with passengers from swine flu infected countries undergoing mandatory medical checks.